Exercising and cosmetic device and method



April 28, 1964 c. M. ROBERTS 3,130,720

EXERCISING AND COSMETIC DEVICE AND METHOD Filed June 4,- 1962 INVENTOR, ('om flfowr amw Pa sen ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,130,729 EXERCHSING AND (IOSMETIC DEVHEE AND METHOD Cora Montgomery Roberts, 111 7th St, Garden City, Long Island, NX. Fiied June 4, 1962, Ser. No. 199,942 Claims. (Cl. 128-76) The present invention relates generally to improvements in exercising and cosmetic devices and methods and it relates particularly to an improved method and device for posture and face and neck exercise and for facilitating the application of cosmetics.

It is well known that with advancing age there is a degradation in the tonal quality of the skin as well as the general muscle tone and an ever increasing deviation from a proper upright posture. This latter defect is not limited to the mature or older person but is very common among young people and the consequence is a sloppy and unattractive appearance. Many types of exercises have been suggested to correct or forestall the above defects but these have been generally of little or no effect. In addition, it is a common practice in the application of cosmetics to the face, such as eye make up or the like to stretch the adjacent facial muscles with one hand and apply the cosmetics with the other hand. This procedure is difficult and awkward and interferes with the application process, as such, but is necessary to effect the proper application of the cosmetic.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved exercising device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved device which functions as an aid in assuming a correct upright posture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved device and method for facilitating the application of cosmetics to the facial surface.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a method and device of the above nature characterized by their simplicity, flexibility, convenience and comfort.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following de scription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevatioual view of an exercising and cosmetic aid device embodying the present invention and illustrated as worn by subject;

FIGURE 2 is a front plan view of the device in a lie fiat condition;

FIGURE 3 is a rear plan view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic sectional view taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of an exercise and cosmetic aid device comprising a peripherally elastic annular head band having a front section, and a rear section, a flexible coupling member secured to said head band front section and extending rearwardly beyond said head band rear section, and a weight carried by said coupling member at a point spaced rearwardly of said front section.

In accordance with a preferred form of the present invention, the head band includes a main section extending along the front and sides thereof which is not elastic or stretchable along the circumference of the head band but only along the width thereof and the rear section of the head band is circumferentially elastic but inelastic across its width. The coupling member is defined by a fabric drape or web having a leading edge secured to the upper front border of the head band and flares outwardly and rearwardly therefrom to a wider trailing edge. A plurality of pockets are formed along the inner trailing border of the drape and selected weights are removably housed in the pockets.

The present invention also contemplates the method of applying cosmetics to the face comprising upwardly lifting the skin and face muscles and retaining said facial structures in said lifted position by a flexible head band tightly engaging the head and upper parts of said muscles and skin, and applying a cosmetic to the face while in said lifted condition.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 4 thereof which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference 'numeral 10 generally designates the improved device which includes an elastic head band 11 and a flexible coupling member defined by a head drape 12.

The head band 11 includes a pair of similar symmetric front panels 13 joined by a vertical line of cross stitching 14 the upper edges of the panels 13 converging upwardly to a peak or crown l6 and the lower edges thereof likewise converging upwardly to an apex. Joined to the opposite outer edges of the front panels 13 by upwardly inclined lines of cross stitches 17 are side rearwardly extending panels 13 which terminate in peripherally spaced vertical edges joined by a rear panel w by stitching to complete the head band 11. The front and side panels 13 and 18 are formed of materials which are unstretchable along one direction and stretchable along another direction and are oriented so that the panels 13 and 18 are substantially unstretchable along the circumference f the head band 11. On the other hand, the rear panel 19 is formed of an elastic band longitudinally elastic and transversely substantially unelastic and oriented so as to be circumferentially elastic.

The coupling or drape member 12 may advantageously be formed of a suitably adorned or decorated Woven or knitted fabric and has a leading convex edge, outwardly rearwardly diverging side edges 20, and rear edges 21 converging to a medial apex 22. The leading convex edge of the drape 1.2 is sewn to the head band front panels 13 by a line of cross stitching 23' extending between the upper outer corners of the panels 13 and downwardly toward the junction line of the panels 13. The drape 12 includes a front or main section 23 which may be formed of one or more panels and which is longitudinally reinforced by longitudinally extending tapes 24 sewn thereto. The trailing edges 21 of the fabric section 23 are inwardly hemmed as at 26, and superimposed along the inner trailing border of the section 23 is a transversely extending pair of panels 27 joined by stitching along their adjacent edges and having their opposite edges inwardly hemmed. A tape 28 is superimposed on the trailing hemmed edges of the panels 27 and sewn thereto and the trailing edges of the section 23 by stitches 29 to close and finish the trailing edge of the drape 12. It should be noted that the tapes 24 overlie the outer faces of the panels 27 and are sewn thereto and to the underlying section 23 to divide the space between the confronting faces of the panels 27 and section 2.3 into a plurality of pockets 30 having upper access openings 32.

Removably housed in one or more of the pockets 30 are weight members 33 which may be of any suitable material and configuration, such as discs of iron, lead or other metal, the conventional lead fishing weights, small sand bags or the like. It has been found that the total weight loaded in the pockets 30 is advantageously between 1 and 8 pounds depending on the size, age, weight and physical condition of the subject.

In employing the above device for posture improvement and exercise, one or more weights are inserted in the pockets 30 depending upon the desired degree of application, and the head band is applied to the head of the subject to register with the upper temples and forehead and to tightly engage the underlying facial structure in a non-slip manner. The drape 12 is then disposed across the top of the head and falls along the back of the subject. The weighted drape urges the subjects head upwardly and rearwardly to an upright position causing the subjects chest to be lifted and the subject to assume a proper posture. Further, a definite lift or pull is given to the facial muscles which has a highly desirable effect. In addition, the facial condition is ideal for the application of many types of cosmetics when the facial muscles are stressed as above. While the subject wears the present device in the above manner, he may move the various muscles of the face and head such as by chewing, blinking, moving the jaws, expanding and contracting the cheeks with air and the like to complement the effect of the present device. The weights employed may be increased With time, women starting with a one pound weight and slowly increasing it to two or three pounds and men starting with a two pound weight and slowly increasing it to five to eight pounds.

In FIGURE of the drawing, there is illustrated another type of head band designated as 34 which may be used in the present device. The head band 34 is formed of a single length of longitudinally elastic band 36 the end edges 37 of which are outwardly downwardly inclined approximately 45 to the longitudinal axis of the band 36. The end sections of the band 36 are in mutually superimposed position with the inclined end edge of each band coinciding with the upper edge of the adjacent end of the band. The superimposed sections are sewn to each other along their peripheral border 33 to delineate a front diamond shaped two layer section 39 of lesser longitudinal elasticity or greater modulus than the remainder of the head band 34. The band 36 is, in the present embodiment transversely unstretchable. It should be noted that the front of the head band 34 may include advantageously two legs which converge from the sides of the head band upwardly to a crown or medial apex.

The head band 34 may have associated therewith a weighted drape, such as the drape 12 previously described, and may be used in the manner of the earlier described i embodiment. It may also be used without the weighted drape to maintain the facial tissue in a lifted or extended condition as an aid in the application of cosmetics or the like.

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a peripherally elastic annular head band having a front section and a rear section, a flexible coupling member secured to said head band front section and extending rearwardly beyond said head band rear section, and a weight carried by said coupling member at a point spaced rearwardly of said front section.

2. A device of the character described comprising a peripherally elastic annular head band adapted to tightly engage the head of a subject and including a front section adapted to register with the forehead and a rear section adapted to register with the back of the head, a flexible coupling member secured to said head band front section and adapted to extend rearwardly over the subjects head and then downward rearwardly and below said head band rear section, and a Weight carried by said coupling member at a point beyond said head band.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said coupling member is secured to said sead band front section at a point adjacent the upper part thereof.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said coupling member comprises a cloth web secured to said head band front section for substantially the full width thereof.

5. The device of claim 4 including a pocket located at the rear free end of said cloth Web, said weight being separably located in said pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,641,474 Bliss Sept. 6, 1927 2,372,133 Smythe Mar. 20, 1945 2,929,381 Schaumer Mar. 22, 1960 3,030,967 Peyron Apr. 24, 1962 3,087,496 Normal Apr. 30, 1963 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A PERIPHERALLY ELASTIC ANNULAR HEAD BAND HAVING A FRONT SECTION AND A REAR SECTION, A FLEXIBLE COUPLING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID HEAD BAND FRONT SECTION AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY BEYOND SAID HEAD BAND REAR SECTION, AND A 